Stories in Art and Graffiti
In a poem about his native Buenos Aires, Jorge Luis Borges writes, “Y la ciudad, ahora, es como un plano / De mis humillaciones y fracasos.”
In English, the lines say, “And the city, now, is like a plane of my humiliations and failures.” Borges believes a city is a map of its inhabitants; in the physical streets and buildings, he sees a reflection of his emotions. While cement sidewalks and grey stone buildings may not represent human emotion, people do allow the city to tell their stories. Through graffiti, writing on billboards, and public art, people engrave the city with a part of themselves.
What stories does Cleveland have to tell? I have lived in Cleveland for less than two months, so I cannot claim any real connection to the city. All I can offer an outsider’s perspective on stories people have taken the time to engrave on the walls of the city.
I will begin my account of Cleveland’s writing at the rapid station on Euclid Avenue. I board a westbound train. The graffiti lining the tracks provides interesting reading material as I make my way into the city. The words drawn alongside the train tracks probably have an interesting story to tell. Clearly, people have spent a great deal of time creating this artistic mural of graffiti, using writing to brand the city with symbols of their beliefs and affiliations.
The train stops at the Westside Market. After making my way through the pavilions filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, I cross the street and head to the little square of grass where a jazz band is performing.
Tall pillars decorated with tiles that bear pictures and poems stand in the corner of the miniature park. Apparently several different people and organizations came together to create these pillars. The tiles bear words like “Argentina es democracia” and “Community of St. Patrick” and “Colombia.” I have no idea who created the tiles or why, but I do know something about the people who created them. I know what sport one child who scrawled the word “Football” on his tile liked to play. I know someone who wrote a poem entitled “Fruits and Vegetables” was in the Westside Market on a rainy day. I know the people who decorated the tiles value their homes and their communities. Using art and poetry, people left anonymous stories about themselves.
The writing found around Cleveland gives the city character. It tells a story about the people who live there, and who have taken the time to make the city their own.
Comments